Magic!

Los Angeles is the "City of Angels," but it may as well be called the "City of Secrets." And we're not just talking about deals brokered in secret in Hollywood boardrooms--L.A. also has plenty of history and things to do that goes beyond Tinseltown.

Consider housekeeping your launchpad to happiness. Clearing away what no longer sparks joy (thanks, Marie Kondo), creating space for what you envision, and anticipating beauty -- that's what opens you up to the heavens. Let the good rush in and through you, and then ship your art.

The word magic takes me down memory lane, watching magic shows as a child was a roller coaster of delight, curiosity, wonderment, surprise and intrigue -- all rolled into one. For me, magic is a personal experience to cherish and the kid in me was overjoyed to observe its cross over to the professional side -- thanks to Steve Jobs.

I'd spent the past few weeks feeling completely lost, purposeless, and alone, but in the simple actions of that little girl, I began to realize the simplicity and power of hope and faith in our world. All I needed to do was to figure out a way of silencing all the noise around and inside of me, and begin to focus on the beauty of a moment, the belief in the wonderful.

The new year is here. It is a point in time where many of us stop, reflect on the past year and see what changes could be made in the new year to make the next year better than the previous one. Here are three steps to consider if you want to create MAGIC in the new year.

Material goods, the constant hurry of people buying and shopping for things people didn't need, the ridiculous rush of Black Friday, the loss of the myth of a magic man who delivered presents -- all of it, slowly, but surely, began to fade.

Nearly a decade ago, I'd found Trent's ad seeking a summer assistant on Craigslist. The main qualifications: small stature, not afraid of small spaces, able to dance. Not many people are claustrophiles, so I had an advantage.

The Alice Tarot gets its distinctive lush look from the Baba team's unique approach to illustration. Each card is based on photographs of places, animals, objects, and costumed people, collaged into seamless tableaux and blended through skillful illustration.

Whether you're a fan of the "casters" found in Beautiful Creatures, or a witch in a modern fairy tale like Spellbound, this list has something for everyone and is sure to satisfy all your spooky needs this fall.

On the whole, Top 40 tracks dominate this month's list. But, there should also be enough alternate versions -- plus some crossover hits from upstarts like Kongos and Echosmith -- to keep things interesting.

A friend in Pittsburgh has put together the first Numinous Magic Market and Healing Workshops -- an event created by people of color for people of color, featuring an array of workshops and vendors focused on a healing space.

My friend Irene has told me for years that she has a magical mysterious pendulum that picks football games. I laughed at her stupidity forever UNTIL I came face to face with the magical pendulum the entire month of September.

I didn't know what I was looking for, just that I'd know when I saw it. I wanted something irreplaceable and perfect -- something to remind me of my work with refugees, and of the woman that this dirty, relentless and fulfilling work had made me.